South High School (Torrance, California)

Public secondary school in Torrance, California, USA

South High School

Address

4801 Pacific Coast Highway

Torrance

California

90505-5544

USA

Coordinates| 33°48′47″N 118°21′49″W﻿ / ﻿33.81296°N 118.36352°W﻿ / 33.81296; -118.36352
Information
Type| Public Secondary
Established| 1957
School district| Torrance Unified School District
Superintendent| Tim Stowe
Dean| Leo Klemm
Principal| Jim Evans
Athletic Director| Kevin VanWaardenburg
Staff| 83.85 (FTE)[2]
Grades| 9–12
Enrollment| 1,841 (2024–25)[1]
Average class size| 34[3]
Student to teacher ratio| 23.57[2]
Color(s)| Kelly green and white

Athletics| Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Surf
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cheer
Dance[4]
Athletics conference| CIF Southern Section
Pioneer League
Nickname| Spartans
Newspaper| Sword & Shield
Yearbook| Olympiad
Website| tusd.org/schools/shs

South High School is a public high school in Torrance, California. It is one of five high schools in the Torrance Unified School District. As of 2025, South High School is ranked as the best school in TUSD by US News. [5] It ranks nationally at #1,021 and #135 at the state level. [6]

## History

[edit]

South High School opened in September 1957 and moved to a new campus in January, 1958 with 20 buildings and 106 classrooms. It currently serves children south of Sepulveda, west of Hawthorne and north of Lomita Boulevard.[7][8]

In 1980 Asahi Gakuen, a weekend Japanese-language education institution, began renting space in South Torrance High School.[9] The school continues to use the school for its Torrance Campus (トーランス校 Tōransu-kō).[10]

In 2004, South High was under refurbishment. Renovations include improved handicapped accessibility, improved lighting, and new signage.

American Beauty was filmed on the South High School campus during the winter break of 1998/1999. Many contemporary South High students were featured as extras in the scenes set on campus.[11]

The short movie Skaterdater was filmed using the Imperial Skateboard Club whose members went to South High.[12]

## Demographics

[edit]

In the 2024–25 school year,[13] South High had an enrollment of 1,841 students.

* African-American - 2.6%
* Asian - 37.6%
* Hispanic or Latino - 22.6%
* Pacific Islander - 0.10%
* Caucasian - 26.9%
* Multi-Racial - 9.9%

The average household income of South High's ZIP codes (90505 and 90277)[14] is $147,185 and $184,665 respectively.

## Athletics

[edit]

South High's mascot is the Spartan, and their colors are green and white.

## Activities

[edit]

The Marching Band won West High Invitationals Sweepstakes 2009, 2010 Percussion State Champs, and the 2011 & 2013 SCJA Division 5A State Champions. The South High 2014-15 Advanced Dance Team were the 2015 USA Dance National Champions in the category "Novelty." In 2017, the 2016-17 Advanced Dance Team became state champions at the USA State Championship, while also placing first in several divisions at USA Regionals. The 2016-17 Athletic Training Program placed first in the small school division at the St. Francis Sports Medical Competition. South High School has a very good Speech and Debate program which has represented the district (WBFL) at the state level multiple years.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Mike Andrews: former MLB second baseman, currently Chair of The Jimmy Fund
* Rob Andrews: former MLB second baseman
* Greg Bargar: former MLB pitcher
* Tom Beach: Olympic and Pan American Games artistic gymnast
* Gillian Boxx: 1996 Olympic gold medalist (Softball)
* Shannon Boxx: 2004, 2008 Olympic gold medallist (Soccer)
* Chuck Codd: former professional soccer player
* Juan Croucier: former bassist for Ratt
* Michael B. Donley: former US Secretary of the Air Force
* Chris Donnels: former MLB third baseman
* Tim Drevno: former offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers
* Jason Farol: singer on Duets (TV series)
* Steven Roger Fischer: prominent academician, writer and preeminent Polynesian historian, ethnographer, and linguist
* Ryo Fujii: professional soccer player
* Chad Morton: former NFL running back and kick/punt returner
* Greg Popovich: Founder & Owner of Castle Rock Winery
* Johnnie Morton: former NFL wide receiver, mixed martial artist
* Sendhil Mullainathan: professor of economics at The University of Chicago
* Aaron North: lead guitarist for Nine Inch Nails
* Bob Anderson (wrestler): USA Teams, AAU and College Champion Wrestler
* David Patterson: professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley and winner of the ACM AM Turing Award, the Nobel Prize of Computer Science
* Steve Smith: former world record holder in the indoor pole vault
* Ken Turner: former MLB pitcher
* Chauncey Washington: former NFL running back
* John White: CFL running back
* Alejandro Daniel Wolff: American diplomat, former US Ambassador to Chile and acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
* Gary Steele: Intramural Basketball champions 1969; Gold trunks 1967–1970; Co-photographer and double of Blythe movie
* Mike Song: Professional dancer for Kinjaz
* Fred Goss: TV director, actor, producer and writer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/torrance-unified-school-district/south-high-school-3562
2. ^ a b "South High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
3. ^ a b "School Quality Snapshot". California Department of Education. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
4. ^ "Athletics". South High School. 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
5. ^ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/torrance-unified-school-district/south-high-school-3562
6. ^ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/torrance-unified-school-district/south-high-school-3562
7. ^ https://www.tusd.org/schools/shs/our-school/index
8. ^ Gnerre, Sam (January 21, 2017). "Torrance's South High School comes to life in the late 1950s". South Bay History. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
9. ^ Rainey, James. "Children of Japanese Executives Flock to Special Classrooms." Los Angeles Times. December 31, 1987. Retrieved on March 6, 2014.
10. ^ "トーランス校 Archived 2014-03-30 at the Wayback Machine." Other Campuses include Orange County and Santa Monica. Asahi Gakuen. Retrieved on March 30, 2014. "TORRANCE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL 4801 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90505 "
11. ^ Internet Movie Database: American Beauty filming locations Retrieved November 5, 2011.
12. ^ "Skaterdater: the story of the world's first skateboard movie". SurferToday.com. SurferToday. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
13. ^ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/torrance-unified-school-district/south-high-school-3562
14. ^ https://www.incomebyzipcode.com/california/90505

## External links

[edit]

* Greater Los Angeles portal
* Schools portal

* Official South High School website

* v
* t
* e

Los Angeles County South Bay schools

Public high schools/notable schools

Los Angeles USD|

* Phineas Banning HS
* Carson HS
* Gardena HS
* Narbonne HS
* San Pedro HS
* Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Prep. Acad.

Centinela Valley Union HSD|

* Hawthorne HS
* Lawndale HS
* Leuzinger HS

| Closed|

* Lennox HS

|

El Segundo USD|

* El Segundo HS

Inglewood USD|

* Inglewood HS
* Morningside HS

Long Beach USD|

* California Academy of Mathematics and Science (located in Carson; no LBUSD territory is in Carson)

Manhattan Beach USD|

* Mira Costa HS

Palos Verdes Peninsula USD|

* Palos Verdes High HS
* Palos Verdes Peninsula HS
* Rancho Del Mar HS

| Closed|

* Miraleste HS

|

Redondo Beach USD|

* Redondo Union HS

Torrance USD|

* Fern ES
* Torrance ES
* North HS
* South HS
* Torrance HS
* West HS

Wiseburn USD|

* Wiseburn HS charters

Elementary districts|

* Hawthorne
* Lawndale
* Lennox

Charter|

* Ánimo Inglewood Charter HS
* Ánimo Leadership Charter HS
* Environmental Charter HS
* Hawthorne Math and Science Academy
* Port of Los Angeles HS

Private schools

Secular|

* Chadwick School
* Nishiyamato Academy of California
* Rolling Hills Country Day School

| Closed|

* International Bilingual School/International School of Los Angeles
* Lycée Français de Los Angeles Torrance Campus

|

Religious|

* Ambassador Christian School
* Bishop Montgomery High School
* Junípero Serra High School
* Mary Star of the Sea HS
* St. Mary's Academy
* Valor Christian Academy

| Closed|

* Good Shepherd Lutheran School

|

South Bay Union High School District was disestablished in 1993; it operated Aviation High School

* v
* t
* e

Torrance, California

Government|

| City departments|

* Torrance Police Department

|

Education|

| Public schools|

* Torrance Unified School District
* Fern ES
* Torrance ES
* Torrance High School
* North High School
* South High School
* West High School
* Ambassador Christian School
* Bishop Montgomery High School

| Former|

* Los Angeles City School District (until 1947)
* Los Angeles City High School District (until 1947)
* South Bay Union High School District (1947-1948 only)

|

Other education|

* El Camino College
* Asahi Gakuen (Japanese weekend school)

Economy|

* Robinson Helicopter Company
* American Honda Motor Company
* Pelican Products
* Rapiscan Systems
* Virco
* Mitsuwa Marketplace
* Nijiya Market

Landmarks|

* Del Amo Fashion Center
* Toyota USA Automobile Museum
* Zamperini Field (airport)
* Western Museum of Flight

Media|

* Daily Breeze

Healthcare|

* Little Company of Mary Hospital
* Torrance Memorial Medical Center
* Harbor–UCLA Medical Center*

*Located in West Carson

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* NCES

|

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